Tattered Cover Undergoes Layoffs Post-B&N Acquisition

Colorado’s iconic book chain, Tattered Cover, has laid off 15 employees following its acquisition by Barnes & Noble earlier this year. The staff reductions were the result of a re-interview process conducted during the transition, leaving 51 employees across its four locations.

The retailer, which filed for bankruptcy in June, previously stated in court documents that Barnes & Noble intended to retain “substantially all” of its staff. However, the transition process led to a reassessment of roles, resulting in both store-level and administrative layoffs.

Managing director Derek Holland explained the decisions:

“We now have 51 employees across all four of the Tattered Cover locations. We conducted a thorough rehiring process for all booksellers led entirely by me and all four store managers. Based on the results of those interviews, we let go of a handful of booksellers at Colfax. There were also certain office roles at the Tattered Cover that overlapped with operations now covered by Barnes & Noble, so the employees who previously held those positions were let go.”

Former employees reported being offered two weeks of severance pay in exchange for signing non-disparagement agreements.

The layoffs mark a significant shift for Tattered Cover, a beloved fixture in the Denver literary community. Many book lovers and industry watchers are now speculating about what these changes signal for the future of the chain under Barnes & Noble’s management.

While the acquisition was positioned as a means of stabilizing Tattered Cover after financial challenges, the reduction in staff raises concerns about how the store’s character and community ties might evolve moving forward.